Surf Forecasts:
Kohala Lighthouse surf forecast from 12 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 16 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 9s period, ENE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 15 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 21ft (6.5m), 11s period, E swell with 8,854 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 16 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 9s period with ENE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Kohala Lighthouse this week:
The surf forecast for Kohala Lighthouse over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 16) at 2PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.5m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 2.4m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 0.3m and 12s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Kohala Lighthouse in the next 16 days are 6.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 15) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 8s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 16) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2PM (Sun 16th Aug) | 8ft (2.4m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 2PM (Sun 16th Aug) | 8ft (2.4m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Sat 15th Aug) | 21ft (6.5m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Kohala Lighthouse over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, and I've gotta be straight with you – this outlook is a tough one. We're looking at Kohala Lighthouse, and for the next 16 days, the surf is really struggling to find its rhythm. The water temp is sitting at 81°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year.
The first week is a write-off. From Wednesday the 12th through to Saturday the 15th of August, the wind is a constant problem. It's blowing hard from the ENE, cross-shore or cross-onshore, and it's turning the ocean into a lumpy, messy, blown-out mess. The swell is there, pushing up to 15 ft on Saturday afternoon with a massive 5571 energy reading, but it's unsurfable with a near gale on it. That's more of a kite-surfing setup than anything you'd want to paddle into.
Then we get a little window on Sunday, the 16th of August. The morning has a risk of thunderstorms, with a 10 ft swell from the east at 9 seconds, and the wind swings SE cross-off, cleaning things up. The energy is still strong at 2384, but it's a marginal call. The real standout is Sunday afternoon: the wind drops to nothing, going glassy from the north, and the swell eases to 7 ft from the ENE at 8 seconds with 629 energy. It's not huge, but it's clean. For a spot like Kohala Lighthouse, which is an exposed reef and only for advanced surfers, that glassy moment is the one chance we get. The swell direction is coming from the ENE, which isn't the optimum north the spot likes, but when it's that clean, you take what you can get.
After that, it's back to the same story. From Monday the 17th all the way through to Thursday the 27th of August, the ENE trade winds just don't quit. The swell stays small, between 4 ft and 7 ft, with short periods of 6 to 9 seconds, and the cross-shore chop makes it a constant battle. There's a lot of days in a row with no real hope, and the energy levels are mostly weak to moderate, sitting between 183 and 430. It's a long, dry spell for surfers.
To sum it up: if you're an experienced surfer and you can be there on the afternoon of Sunday the 16th of August, you might find a couple of clean, glassy ones. Otherwise, this is a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Warm (max 26°C on Wed morning, min 25°C on Thu night). Mainly strong winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 120mm), heaviest during Sat night. Warm (max 27°C on Sun afternoon, min 24°C on Sat afternoon). Winds decreasing (severe gales from the NNE on Sat night, calm by Sun afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 11 | ENE 11 | E 12 | E 10 | E 9 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 167 | 203 | 227 | 276 | 298 | 361 | 493 | 673 | 1910 | 3058 | 5557 | 3790 | 1250 | 603 | 498 | 456 | 366 | 199 | 231 | 225 | 188 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 3:26PM0.95m | 3:19AM0.53m | 3:57PM0.90m | 4:05AM0.58m | 4:24PM0.83m | 4:51AM0.61m | 4:48PM0.74m | 5:39AM0.63m | 5:07PM0.65m | 6:32AM0.63m | 5:18PM0.57m | 7:38AM0.63m | 5:07PM0.51m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:20AM0.02m | 10:08PM0.18m | 9:04AM0.07m | 10:33PM0.17m | 9:48AM0.13m | 10:57PM0.15m | 10:31AM0.22m | 11:22PM0.15m | 11:17AM0.31m | 11:46PM0.15m | 12:09PM0.39m | 00:11AM0.16m | 1:29PM0.47m | 00:40AM0.18m | |||||||
 | |  |  | |  | |  |  |  |  |  | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — |
 | — | 6:53 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:51 | — | — | 6:51 | — | — | 6:50 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 83 | 14 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 |
Feels °C | 24 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 18 | 21 | 28 | 32 | 31 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 11 | W 13 | W 12 | W 12 | W 12 | W 12 | W 11 | W 12 | W 12 | W 11 | W 11 | W 13 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | W 12 | W 11 | W 11 | W 11 | W 11 | W 13 | W 13 |
| kJ | 9 | 30 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 31 | 1106 | 603 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 10 | 22 | 14 | 30 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | NW 9 | NW 8 | NW 7 | N 7 | W 12 | W 11 | W 15 | N 9 | W 13 | SW 8 | WSW 4 | N 8 | N 8 | N 7 | SW 17 | W 11 | SW 15 |
| kJ | 13 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 28 | 17 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 9 | 9 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | N 7 | N 7 | N 7 | S 12 | S 14 | S 14 | SW 17 | NW 8 | W 14 | — | — | SW 19 | W 12 | N 8 | SW 18 | SW 19 | W 15 | N 7 | SW 18 | SW 18 |
| kJ | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 3 | 4 | — | — | 15 | 26 | 5 | 12 | 15 | 4 | 1 | 12 | 12 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 11 | ENE 11 | E 12 | E 10 | E 9 | — | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 |
| kJ | 167 | 203 | 227 | 276 | 298 | 361 | 493 | 673 | 1910 | 3058 | 5557 | 3790 | 1250 | — | 498 | 456 | 366 | 199 | 231 | 225 | 188 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 69 | 73 | 57 | 71 | 69 | 71 | 70 | 74 | 69 | 57 | 73 | 436 | 5 | 0 | 73 | 73 | 73 | 57 | 73 | 73 | 57 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Big Island | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Kohala Lighthouse Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Kohala Lighthouse provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Kohala Lighthouse can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Kohala Lighthouse surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Kohala Lighthouse) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Kohala Lighthouse may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Kohala Lighthouse is 87 km (54 miles) from Kihei. If you plan a vacation in Big Island, look for hotels and other accommodation in Kihei. Kihei has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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